Siri, the matriarch of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo's small elephant herd, clearly relishes the petting and attention she gets from zoo goers when an elephant demonstration ends.

But, since mid-April, a little-known state regulation has prevented Siri and the two other females in the herd from greeting the public up close and personal -- the zoo can't let people pet the elephants anymore.

In phone calls and letters, Department of Environmental Conservation officials have reminded Gifford Zoo director Chuck Doyle and other holders of Endangered/Threatened Species licenses across the state of a 3-year-old provision that requires them to prevent contact between the public and the licensed animals.

Since receiving a DEC letter on April 9, Doyle has forbidden the elephants to approach the fence of their enclosure to greet fans following their shows. He's also pulled another endangered animal, Nueve, the golden condor, from the traveling Zoo to You exhibit.

Doyle said Tuesday he's hoping the agency will rethink the rule.

Being able to talk to an elephant trainer directly and touch the animal can inspire learning and an appreciation of wildlife and conservation, Doyle said.

"If these types of things that go on here at the zoo, our interactives with our bird show, our elephant shows, and all, if they didn't have such an impact and draw, we wouldn't be pulling in over 300,000 people a year. Everybody would just sit home and watch 'Animal Planet,' " Doyle said. " 'Animal Planet' (is) great, don't get me wrong, but I think you need to have all different ways to learn about animals, and our interactive program's an unbelievable opportunity for people."

Being able to touch an elephant makes a difference to children, said zoo patron Erin Snyder, 28, of Syracuse.

"When I was little you could pet the elephants, when Tundi was a baby," Snyder recalled Tuesday as she watched Siri with her toddler cousin, Grace Shea. "It's exciting. You feel one with nature, even if it's in a confined area."

The contact also seems to be important to Siri, judging from her body language, Doyle said.

"What I think happens is, when she finishes a demonstration and instead of taking her to the public we go inside, her response is, 'What did I do wrong, why aren't I getting to do this?' Because that has been part of her life since I started at the zoo. And she did it before me. So it's a part of her life that she's grown very accustomed to and to enjoy," Doyle said.

Maureen Wren, speaking for the DEC, said the prohibition was written to protect the animals and the public alike. No specific episode triggered the rule, but a tiger attack at a Washington County fair some time ago and the recent mauling by a tiger at a California zoo demonstrate why it's needed, she said.

Agency officials sent the letter after observing several licensees giving elephant rides, including one at last year's Erie County Fair, she said.

"We certainly recognize the value of getting the public involved in conservation, but it's also our responsibility to ensure the public safety, as well as the welfare of the animal," Wren said.

The Gifford Zoo hasn't offered elephant rides since 1990, Doyle said.

Local school officials hope to talk the DEC into being flexible. County Executive Joanie Mahoney and state Sen. David Valesky, D-Oneida, have sent letters to DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis urging that the prohibition be changed, and the county Legislature is preparing a resolution supporting the zoo.

"This is something we feel is detrimental to the zoo," Valesky said. "We have one of the foremost elephant experts in Chuck Doyle here. It would seem the department could be more flexible in the application of the policy. That's what we're anxious to determine."